Multicolored artistic designs



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KATHI URBCH SPERLING NOW BY CHANGE OF NAME KATHI URBACH MULTICOLOREDARTISTIC DESIGNS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 27,. 1953 INVENTOR fill izndcj Sper L ATTORNEYS March 12, 1957 KATHI URBACH SPERLING 2,784,513

Now BY CHANGE oF NAME KATHI uRBAcl-l MULTIcoLoRED ARTISTIC DESIGNS FiledNov. 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTGR ATTORNEYS United States Patent OMULTICOLORED ARTISTIC DESIGNS Kathi Urbach Sperling, now by change ofname Kathi Urbach, New York, N. Y.

Application November 27, 1953, Serial No. 394,607

1 Claim. (Cl. 41-24) lVly invention relates to multi-colored artisticdesigns and process for producing the same and, more particularly to aprocess wherein adhesive impregnated individual fiber strands areutilized to give both form and color to the article produced.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a process forproducing multi-colored artistic designs, which is simple in nature sothat it may be practiced by those who have no particular artistic orcreative `ability but which is sufficiently versatile so as to affordskilled artists ample opportunity to create complex multi-coloreddesigns in either two or three dimensional congurations.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a process forproducing multicolored artistic designs which eliminates the step ofhand painting so that the coloring of the finished design is notdependent upon the painting skill of the practitioner.

Another object of the invention is the provision or" a multi-coloredartistic design which has a hard and durable finish but yet presents avery desirable inherent textured effect.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparentduring the course of the following detailed description and appendedclaim.

The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of a background to which the presentinvention is adapted to be applied.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a floral design ern bodying thepresent invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the inventionillustrating a three-dimensional design, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line :'5-5 of Figure 4.

My invention contemplates a process for producing multi-colored artisticdesigns and, consequently, the process has utility in connection withany article to which an artistic design may be applied but, moreparticularly my process is utilized to produce wall decorations, such aspictures and the like.

In general the process comprises the steps of selecting various coloredindividual fiber strands, impregnating the individual ber strands withan adhesive, applying the impregnated individual fiber strands to abackground or support while the individual ber strands are in a pliablecondition due to the viscosity of the adhesive, forming the individualfiber strands into the desired design and permitting the adhesive tosolidify. A preservative may be added if desired.

In selecting suitable individual fiber strands, l have found that it isdesirable that they should be of an absorbent material in order toobtain the best results. Consequently, cotton is the preferred materialbut other mate- 2,784,513 Patented Mar. l2, 1957 rials, such as wool,flax, rayon, linen, silk and the like may be used. The individual berstrands may be of any size depending on the particular textured effectdesired. Thus, any of the conventional yarn, thread, string or cordsizes well known in the art may be employed. It is most importanthowever, that the fiber strands he separate from each other, that is,not interwoven, since the individual liber strands are utilized not onlyto give form to the design but at the same time to give color thereto.It is therefore essential that the fiber strands be separate so that thedesired shades and tints of color may be obtained by the expedientselection of different colored individual or groups of individual fiberstrands as needed;

The essential characteristics of the adhesive employed are first, itshould be substantially colorle-ss or suficiently transparent so thatthe color of the individual liber strands may show through clear andtrue, second, it should be of a viscosity which will permit readyimpregnation of the fibers but yet maintain them in a relatively stiffpliable condition during the formation of the design, and third, itshould solidify into a relatively hard condition so as to preserve thedesign when finished. I have found that cornstarch-based adhesives, twocommercial examples of which are Higgins vegetable glue and Americanadhesive gum No. 5, give the best results. However, other adhesives,such as animal, vegetable and mineral glues, plastic adhesives oradhesives which harden by the addition of a proper catalyst, whichpossess the desired characteristic to` a lesser degree may be utilized.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown two designs in the form ofpictures to illustrate the present invention. The pictures are providedwith a suitable background or support to which the design is applied. Itis to be understood however, that in other applications of theinvention, the background or support may be of any material and of anysize or shape depending upon the particular purpose contemplated inpracticing the invention.

Example I In Figures l, 2 and 3 there is shown a floral design 14including petals 16 and leaves 18 which is adapted to be utilized as aWall painting. In producing this picture a rectangular sheet ofcardboard constituting a background or support `10 is utilized and, asshown in Figure l, an outline 12 of the design to be produced isimprinted on the background. In producing the petals 16 of the design,individual white cotton yarn strands are first cut to size and thenimpregnated with American adhesive gum No. 5. The `impregnation of theindividual yarn strands is accomplished by covering the strands with theadhesive and working the adhesive into the strands by the fingers of thehand. It is very important that the strands be thoroughly impregnatedwith the adhesive and by this procedure a uniform impregnation isobtained without any excess of the adhesive remaining on the outside ofthe strands. Two such impregnated strands are grouped together andapplied to the background and then molded by the fingers to the shape ofthe petal outline provided. After the main body of the petals has beenthus formed, the petals are outlined by groups of' individual violetthread strands which are similarly impregnated, applied and formed. Thisprocedure is repeated throughout the design for each part thereof andfor each color variant. In forming the leaves 18, the body thereof isformed of individual green cotton thread strands grouped together andthe leaves are outlined with an individual cotton thread strand of adarker shade of green. In this embodiment all of the fiber strands aredisposed in substantially a single plane, namely, the plane of thebackground, so that the finished design is similar to a painting but yethas its own distinctive inherent textured effect.

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3 Example Il In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the sameprocedure is followed as in Example I, except that in this embodimentthe individual fiber strands are built up so as to form an alto reliefor three-dimensional design 22. A cardboard support or background 2t)including a cream colored cotton cloth 2i receives the design 22 whichcomprises a face 24. In forming the face of the design, groups ofindividual cotton string strands are uniformly impregnated by theprocedure set forth in Example I and applied to the background and thenseveral additional groups of individual cotton string strands areapplied on top of the previously applied strands and the entire group ofindividual ber strands is molded or formed with the lingers to obtainthe particular alto-relief shape of the face. The hair 26, eyes 27 andeyebrows 28 are formed by the use of individual black cotton yarnstrands impregnated in the usual manner and applied to the face strandsalready formed. Similarly, red cotton thread is added to form the lips3) of the design. ln this manner the entire face of the design is builtup of a solid mass of suitably colored individual fiber strands andformed or molded to the desired Shape. In forming the iiowers 32 shownin the design the petals are formed of individual pink cotton yarnstrands impregnated in the usual manner. The cotton yarn strands arethen applied to the background and formed with the fingers and turnedupwardly in some cases away from the background so as to give a highrelief effect, as shown in Figure 5. It is to be noted that the strandsas impregnated are sufficiently stiff so that they will remain in anyposition in which they are placed and that the effect of the strands issuch that this high relief effect is made possible. In this embodimentthe background is provided with a suitable frame 3ft which is formed byrelatively heavy individual strands of black cotton yarn. The strandsare grouped together, cut to size, impregnated, applied, built up andformed in the same manner as that previously described. In this manneran entire finished three-dimensional multicolored picture with frame isproduced ready for hanging on the wall.

It is to be understood that the specific manner of impregnating theindividual fiber strands described in the above illustrative embodimentsis the preferred method of impregnation but that other procedures may beused which will accomplish the essential uniform impregnation required.Likewise, tools and other means may be used in applying and forming theimpregnated strands on the support but, I have found that direct fingermanipulation gives the best results.

If desired, the finished design may be coated with a suitablepreservative such as shellac, clear varnish or the like.

l am aware that certain processes are well known in the ecorating artwherein cloth or paper is immersed in a glue stiifening agent and theresultant mixture is applied to walls and the like, given athree-dimensional contiguration, allowed to dry, and afterwards painteda desired color or colors. I am also aware that similar processes arewell known in the display art where the utilization of papier-machethree-dimensional figures is quite common. However, in my invention thefinal step of applymg a coat of paint to give the design its finishedeffect is eliminated. This is a great advantage since the painting stepis the most diicult to accomplish and, if not done with great skill,will result in a poorly finished article. With my invention, no paintingability is necessary as the desired coloring effects are obtained by themere selection of suitably colored individual liber strands. In otherwords, since the color is supplied at the same time the design is beingformed, the only manual skill required is in the formation of the designitself. It is again emphasized that the fiber strands must be utilizedCil individually in order to obtain the essential color variations, aresult which is not possible with the use of cloth or paper.

While it is apparent that my invention is adapted to be practicedparticularly by those who have relatively little artistic or creativeability, nevertheless, it can be readily understood that infinitevarieties of shape and color can be obtained so that there is provided aprocess which will afford skilled artists new vistas in which 'to createmulti-colored designs in two or three-dimensional configuration. This ispossible due to the provision of the individually impregnated fiberstrands. The adhesive with which the strands are impregnated is of aviscosity which transforms the strands from a limp condition into arelatively stili but pliable condition. The stif but pliable strand maybe utilized either by itself or it may be grouped with other strandsbefore being applied. The stilic but pliable condition `of the strandcooperates with the inherent longitudinal nature of the strand topresent an instrumentality which is extremely versatile in itsapplication. The impregna-ted strands are easily manipulated by thefingers of the hand and once manipulated they retain the position intowhich they are placed. Thus, the strands may be curved by the fin-gersto conform to virtually any surface outline, they may be built up one ontop `of the other and molded by the fingers into altoreliefconfigurations which consist `of a solid mass of the individual iiberstrands and they may be displaced by the fingers to assume a high reliefconfiguration in which a single strand or group of strands throughout aportion of its extent is self-supporting. Mention was made above to theinherent longitudinal nature of the strands. This inherent property ofthe strands is very important to the results achieved and warrantsconsiderable emphasis. While in the `specific examples set forth above,the strands were described as being iirst cut to size before beingimpregnated, a strand may be progressively impregnated, applied andformed as it comes off its spool and then cut. Thus, the strandsutilized may be of considerable length Ior longitudinal extent. The4significance of the length or longitudinal extent `of the strands isthat intricate vermiculated designs may be achieved with a single strandor groups of strands. For example, `starting with an impregnated lengthof strand of considerable longitudinal extent, the free end may beapplied to the support, the next portion may then be bent, turned orcurved from the end portion in any direction either in the plane 'of thesupport or away from the plane of the support and because of thepresence of the adhesive the portion is maintained in the position inwhich it is placed, then the next adjacent portion may likewise be bent,turned or curved from its adjacent portion in any direction in any planeand it, in turn, is retained in the position in which it is placed. Thisprocedure may be repeated throughout the entire length of the strand orgroup of strands with attendant variation in the specific length ofportions being worked on as desired. It can therefore be seen that thelongitudinal nature 'of the strand-s cooperates with the 4adhesive topermit the strands to assume highly intricate vermiculatedconfigurations.

Specific examples of the vermiculated configurations which may beachieved are amply illustrated in the drawings, particularly in Figures4 and 5. Attention is directed to the manner in which the severalcontiguous individual fiber strands forming nose 29 of the design 22 areapplied to give the nose its alto-relief configuration. As was pointedout in the description of Example II, the face 24 of vthe design 22 andits component parts are built up by a solid mass of contiguousindividual ber strands. Thus, after the main body of the face has beenformed, an impregnated strand such as strand 29', shown in Figure 4, isapplied and curved laterally by the lingers in the plane of the face togive the nose its lateral ooniigurational outline. Additional contiguousimpregnated strands are then applied to build up the nose until finalstrands, as exemplified by strand 29", shown in `Figure 5, are appliedand curved by the fingers in a plane perpendicular to the plane of thebackground 20 to give the nose 29 its final alto-relief coniigurationaloutline. Strand 2.9',l clearly illustrates 4the importance and:advantage of the considerable length or longitudinal extent of theindividual fiber strands. As shown in Figure 5, strand 29 extendsthroughout substantially the entire height of the design and during thisextent, it has been curved and displaced in different directions to formpart of the altorelief outline of the neck, chin, nose and forehead ofthe design. It also `forms part of a built `up base to which the strandsforming the lips and hair are applied. Of course, infinite variationsare possible and the other oomponent part-s of the design 2v2 illustratebut a few. The formation of the eyebrows 28 clearly illustrates 'anexample where an individual strand of a contrasting color may beutilized by itself, while the formation of the hair 26 illustrates thelutilization fof comparatively large groups of individual -strands ofthe same color together, In all cases a vermiculated configuration lismade possible by the cooperation -of the .adhesive and the longitudinalextent of the strands utilized. Other examples, such las the high reliefeffect achieved in the formation of the flowers 32, and the multi-coloreffect in forming the petals, can be readily discerned from theillustrated embodiments.

Since the present invention may be readily practiced by laymen who haveno particular creative ability or artistic skill it will be understoodthat it is within the contemplation of the invention that the componentparts necessary to produce the designs may be commercially supplied tosuch laymen and others in the form of a kit. Such a kit would comprise abox or container having included therein a background suitably marked,such as shown in Figure 1, with the outline of the design to beproduced, the necessary number, size and color of individual fiberstrands with which to form the design, a container of adhesive toimpregnate the individual ber strands and a printed copy of instructionsexplaining how the particular design is produced.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herewithshown and described are to be taken as the preferred form of the same,and that various changes may be resorted to without departing from `thespirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claim.

l claim:

A three dimensional multi-colored picture comprising a at background, aframe secured to the marginal edges of said background and a designcarried by said background within the frame, said design comprising amultiplicity of various colored individual textile liber strandscemented to said background, said strands arranged so as to give bothcolor and configuration to said design, at least some of said individualstrands being bunched and permanently cemented together and secured tosaid background so that the surface of the hunched-together strandsremote from the background is contoured to form a part of the design,some of the other individual strands being of substantial longitudinalextent and permanently cemented into vermiculated configurations to formanother part of the design.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,412,074 Ward Apr. 11, 1922 1,606,724 Rutman Nov. 9, 1926 1,829,262Cade Oct. 27, 1931 2,148,632 Lovejoy Feb. 28, 1939

